The New Seat
667 Words
The classroom buzzed with excitement long before the first bell rang.
Girls huddled together, whispering behind their hands.
"I heard he's even more handsome now."
"My cousin said he's already being scouted by professional basketball teams."
"I hope he sits near me!"
Ji-ah ignored the chatter as she neatly arranged her books on her desk beside the window.
"Honestly," Ha-neul sighed dramatically, "you're the only girl in this school who isn't excited."
Ji-ah smiled without looking up.
"I don't even know him."
"You will in about ten seconds."
Before Ji-ah could ask what she meant, the classroom door slid open.
Their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Kim, walked in carrying a stack of papers.
The room instantly fell silent.
"Good morning, everyone."
"Good morning, Mrs. Kim!"
She nodded with satisfaction.
"Before we begin today's lesson, I'd like to introduce someone."
The classroom erupted into whispers again.
Mrs. Kim smiled knowingly.
"As many of you already know, one of our students has returned after studying abroad."
She looked toward the doorway.
"You may come in."
A tall figure stepped into the classroom.
Han Seo-jun.
The girls nearly screamed.
Several boys rolled their eyes.
Seo-jun bowed politely.
"My name is Han Seo-jun. I look forward to studying with all of you."
His calm voice only made the girls admire him more.
Mrs. Kim pointed toward the only empty seat in the room.
"You'll be sitting..."
She glanced around.
"...next to Kang Ji-ah."
Ji-ah's eyes widened.
Next to me?
Seo-jun walked down the aisle while every pair of eyes followed him.
When he reached the empty chair, he stopped.
The moment he recognized the girl from the school entrance, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"So... it's you again."
Ji-ah blinked.
"You remember me?"
"You dropped three books."
She couldn't help but laugh.
"I actually dropped four."
Seo-jun chuckled.
"I guess I missed one."
For a brief second, the classroom became strangely quiet.
The girls stared in disbelief.
Han Seo-jun...
Was smiling?
At Kang Ji-ah?
Min-seo, sitting near the front, tightened her grip on her pen until it snapped in half.
Her eyes burned with jealousy.
Who does she think she is?
Mrs. Kim cleared her throat.
"Class, settle down."
The lesson began.
Ji-ah focused on taking notes while Seo-jun occasionally glanced at her.
Unlike everyone else, she never tried to get his attention.
She never whispered to him.
She never asked him questions.
She simply treated him like any other classmate.
That intrigued him.
Lunch arrived.
Ha-neul rushed over.
"Ji-ah! Let's eat before the cafeteria gets crowded."
As the two girls stood, Seo-jun spoke.
"Mind if I join you?"
Ha-neul nearly dropped her lunch tray.
Ji-ah looked surprised.
"If you don't mind simple food."
"I don't."
The three of them headed toward the cafeteria together.
The entire school watched.
Phones came out.
Whispers spread like wildfire.
"Han Seo-jun is eating with Kang Ji-ah!"
"No way!"
"Who is she?"
From another table, Choi Min-seo watched with narrowed eyes.
She had spent two years trying to get Seo-jun's attention.
Yet within a single morning...
A nobody had stolen it.
She slowly smiled.
Not because she was happy.
Because she had just decided...
Kang Ji-ah would become her newest target.
After school, Ji-ah walked home alone as the golden sunset painted the streets.
She hummed softly, unaware that a black luxury car was moving slowly behind her.
Inside the car, Seo-jun watched her through the window.
His driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror.
"Young Master, should I continue?"
Seo-jun nodded.
"Just until I know she gets home safely."
The driver smiled knowingly but said nothing.
Neither of them noticed another car parked farther down the street.
Inside, a man wearing a black cap lowered a camera.
Click.
He had just taken several photos of Ji-ah.
He picked up his phone and made a call.
"I've found the girl."
A cold voice answered.
"Keep watching her."
The call ended.
The man smiled.
Ji-ah had no idea...
Someone had already started following her.
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